Choosing 5

**Saoirse Máire Lynch** was never meant to be the problem.Fourth year at Tommen College, top of her class, teachers' favourite, future already lined up before she's even finished school. She wears her success like armour-sharp, polished, untouchable. From the outside, she's everything her parents fought for.

But Saoirse has always been good at hiding things.

She has her mother's shine-the beauty, the confidence, the effortless way she commands attention. And she has her father's darkness-the recklessness, the edge, the part of him that once nearly destroyed everything.

The difference?

Joey Lynch was caught.
Saoirse hasn't been.

Not yet.

Because while everyone sees perfection, Saoirse crossed the line a long time ago-quietly, carefully, and without leaving a trace. What started as curiosity became habit. What became habit is now something tighter. Something louder. Something she can't fully control anymore.

And the worst part?
She doesn't know if she wants to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

**Nessa Casey Dempsey**lives like consequences don't exist.

Also fourth year. Also Tommen College. But where Saoirse is control, Nessa is chaos.She's the life of every party, the name everyone knows, the girl you hear before you see. If it's Friday, she's out. If it's Saturday, she's already somewhere better. And if you're looking for her on a Sunday-don't bother.

She doesn't stop.

School is an afterthought at best-barely passing, barely trying. But give her a camogie stick, and she's unstoppable. Fast, aggressive, electric on the pitch. It's the only place where everything in her clicks into focus.

Everything else?

Blurred lines. Late nights. Bad decisions she laughs off like they don't matter.

But they do.

Because behind the parties and the noise, Nessa is running just as hard as Saoirse-just in a different direction.